This is a private reference site, not a government office. It cannot confirm custody, release anyone, post bond, or retrieve an official booking record.
Choose the Record Holder
Contact the office that owns the part of the record you need. Current jail questions go to the facility. Durable booking, release, movement, or photograph requests use the county data request process. Court orders and case dispositions come from the District Court. Supervision facts come from probation or Minnesota DOC, based on the type of sentence. These contacts were verified in the project research on July 24, 2026, but office details can change.
715 Third Avenue South, St. James, MN 56081
Mail: P.O. Box 168, St. James, MN 56081
507-375-1206
Administrative hours: Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The jail is staffed continuously.
Official county jail page
Shay Forstrom, P.O. Box 168, St. James, MN 56081
507-375-3121 · Fax 507-375-1246
Responsible-authority contact: 715 Third Avenue South, 507-375-2538, shay.forstrom@co.watonwan.mn.us
County data-practices hub · Official data request form
Courthouse basement, 710 Second Avenue South
P.O. Box 518, St. James, MN 56081
507-375-1294
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Official county probation page
710 Second Avenue South, St. James, MN 56081
Criminal division: 507-621-6005
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Official Watonwan District Court page
Use the home page for the full released-person and release-record workflow. Post-release supervision is separated on the parole and probation page. The official Watonwan County VINE page lists 1-877-664-8463 for county-jail custody checks and alerts. For a state-prison release or discharge record, Minnesota DOC Records Management lists 651-361-7330, fax 612-473-5006, and CO-Records.DOC@state.mn.us. Federal prison results belong in the BOP locator, while ICE ODLS is limited to current immigration detention.